Sawbench

[CountTFit]

G'Day,
Are these any good?http://www.bids.com.au/TradeTools/sawbenches.html

I guess they are available elsewhere as something else.

Ivan GD CooKe

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CountTFit

[JackG]

Ivan,
They look like from the same factory as the ones at Timbecon, Hare and forbes, ledacraft etc..
I think the main differences are on the fences they fit to them and accessories like sliding table, router attachment.

I am also considering buying one of them and would appreciate if there is anyone out there that uses one and could comment on.

The next step to a Taiwan cabinet saw just doubles the price and I am not sure how much more we get from them.

Jack

[DarrylF]

I have one very similar - mine's green and labelled Workcraft if I remember correctly, but the unit looks the same.

The side tables are different (mine are just BBQ grill style), but the fence is the same as the one that came with mine.

Several problems:
* The fence is complete rubbish - completely useless, binds, won't lock in at the same angle twice etc.
* The table top itself might look OK, but every one I've seen is warped.
* The rise/fall mechanism sucks. Mine rattled loose and the pointer fell apart - had to take it apart and re-engineer it. Even now it binds and has far too much play.
* The splitter and guard are completely useless - gave up on them almost immediately.

After paying around $1,000 for it, I wound up buying a Biesemeyer fence from Carbatec (great outfit, brilliant fence) for around $700, building an extension table and new base with built in dust collection and spending a LOT of time tuning it.

I wish now I'd spent a few hundred extra and bought a Jet cabinet saw - or even a contractors model. Would have saved myself a lot of time, effort, frustration and ultimately money - since I'm about to sell mine and buy a Jet anyway.

I'm very quickly learning that saving a few bucks is a myth - you get what you pay for, assuming you do your homework.

[CountTFit]

Originally posted by DarrylF:

I'm very quickly learning that saving a few bucks is a myth - you get what you pay for, assuming you do your homework.[/B]

Darryl,
Thanks, I'm in two minds as to go ahead with a jig at the moment.

On another point, I see you're interested in Photography. I'm looking to get a digital camera but am stalling for the time-being.
Any tips on Digital cameras? I'm looking towards a Sony with the floppy disc; with a view for close ups, for putting pics on the web for this, and other lists.
Like when I pull my bike apart for work I can photograph the items and ask for HELP!
The same might go for my woodworking)

Ivan GD CooKe
on The Darling Downs

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Ivan GD CooKe
aka
CountTFit

[John G]

Ivan,
If you're interested in digital cameras, I did a lot of research before I bought my Sony Cybershot.
If others are interested I can put all the information here, but so I don't contaminate these woodwork pages with foreign material, just email me and I'll be happy to advise.
John.

[DarrylF]

For my money, you can't go past either a Sony or an Olympus - Sony really have their s**t together in the consumer market, and Olypus mostly lead the way in the middle market.

The advantage with Olympus is that their lenses are brilliant, the advantage with Sony is their PC interfaces and software are great. If you're a serious amateur photographer, go for the Olympus.

Forget the floppy based Sony - get a memory stick version. A floppy has nowhere near enough storage space.

When you go shopping, find a good camera shop - definitely not Harvey Norman etc. The camera pros know a hell of a lot more about the subject that some spotty 18 year old

Off topic yeah, but that's my 2 cents. As you can probably tell I'm a bit of a gadget nut.

[JackG]

Thanks for the info Darryl that sort of confirm some doubts I had, too bad I missed that jwts in the paper today, it did not last a day
Still a couple of month till I really need it and if I do not find anything 2nd hand by then I think I'll go for the Jwcs.

Thanks

Jack

[DarrylF]

I have a feeling there are a lot of us looking for decent pre-loved equipment

While I was looking for my first saw table I responded to an ad in the local paper - from the description & chat with the owner it was a decent 12 inch bench saw, all the features, at a bargain price. Turned up with cash in hand to find a home built POS with a ply top that the guy had thrown together in an hour 30 years ago - and then promptly left in the backyard for several years Needless to say I left in a hurry.

I never seem to have a decent experience trying to buy anything out of the paper.